180 Win - The Ooma Small Business Podcast

George Coleman is an independent insurance agent who connects all kinds of insurance companies to his clients, but with a twist. He’s been working from home since the 90s, giving him 30 years of experience in something most of us just began doing a year or so ago.  Insights that George has gained from his years working remotely include managing work/life balance, getting clients to be comfortable outside of an office setting and building relationships when you can’t meet in person.  Listen as George shares:  How to maintain work/life balance while at home.  How to start a relationship-based business now. Why your morning routine is essential to working from home.

Jason Walsh started DJing in high school and over the past 25 years he’s worked his way up from youth dances to corporate events and weddings. With over 1,500 weddings under his belt, he had to adjust to an entirely new reality as the pandemic arrived and shut down live events all over the world. Jason is the program director at Bay Deejays and helped create the United States Disc Jockey Association, which unites 15,000 DJs across the United States. However, not even that was enough to get the attention of government officials when Jason and other DJs needed help. Listen as Jason shares:How DJs banded together with other live event staff.How he helped DJs navigate the pandemic.Tips and tricks for live event workers in the future.

Ralph Clark is an Associational Missionary for the Northwest Baptist Association, an umbrella organization that helps smaller churches cope with the rules of being a non-profit and backs them up when disaster strikes.  The Northwest Baptist Association started with three churches nearly 200 years ago and is now over 60 churches strong. Over time, Ralph and the rest of the association have learned valuable tips and tricks that can help any non-profit soar.  Listen as Ralph shares:  How the association helped churches adapt during the pandemic. How to maintain your non-profit’s values. The key difference between hired help and volunteers.  Why keeping it simple is vitally important.

Adrienne Gould started her mechanical engineering business ADICOT, Inc, after she worked at Lucent and Bell Labs and taught at a Jr. College for 2 years. She describes how she eased her way into starting her business after receiving inspiration from the book Good to Great. Learn how she automates her workflow processes to stay organized, save time, and replicate the processes for future projects.

Robert W. Armstrong Jr. didn’t have immigration law in mind when he attended law school, but he was part of an immigration clinic and “something clicked.” He realized this was his calling after working with the vulnerable population of unaccompanied children, and he describes how his ability to connect with people on a human level – now remotely – is still the foundation of The Armstrong Law Firm. Visit us at Ooma.com.

Jennifer (Jenay) Aiksnoras of Lake Tahoe Yoga shares her compelling story about how she reinvented herself from elementary school counselor to yoga instructor focusing on both mind and body. After running her yoga classes and teaching instructors for over 10 years, she explains how she expanded into luxury wellness tourism and shares sage advice to small business owners on how they can reflect, transition, and drive their own happiness and success. Visit us at Ooma.com.

After 25 years in the travel industry, Tom Gehrels started his own adventure travel company offering small tours with activities such as trekking, hiking, cycling, and safaris. He visits 2-4 new countries per year including remote locations such as Antarctica and describes how he leverages his passion for travel by providing his clients with unique, adventure travel experiences and personalized service. Visit us at Ooma.com.

Gladys Boutwell of Insurance by Design knows a thing or two about small business needs because she runs an employee benefits company that specifically supports small companies. Hear how she built a successful business on trust. Her unique “mistake of the month” program uncovers root causes of benefits errors so she and her team can fix them. You’ll understand why her business grows through referrals! Visit us at Ooma.com.